Eye-treating device



June 24, 1930,. F. KING EYE TREATING DEVICE led y 16. 1928 J/VVEN TORligflcth' Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRANCISKING, or Los ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO VERA M. KING, onsaivBERNABDINO, CALIFORNIA EYE-TREATING nnvion Application filed July 16,1828. Serial No. 292,959.

My invention relates to an ophthalmic instrument that is especiallydesigned for imparting pressure and suction to the eye-ball for thetreatment of various irregularities such as inflamed and congested eyes,or in fact any irregular condition of the eye that will lend itself toscientific treatment with the aid of pressure or suction of a fluidmedium such as air or water.

lvly present invention is an improvement upon the ophthalmic massageinstrument patented by me January 3, 1928, No. 1,654,888.

The principal objects of my present invention are to generally improveupon and simplify the construction of the instrument disclosed in myaforesaid patent, as well as other existing forms of similarinstruments, further to provide a relatively simple and practicalinstrument that may be readily used by patients for self-treatment; topro vide an ophthalmic device of the character referred to that may beused after the man-v ner of an ordinary eye cup for the purpose oftreating the front portion of the eye-ball .with water, either pure orcontaining healing agents; and further, to construct the device so thatitmay be partially collapsed or contracted in order that the water orliquid contained within the device will exert pressure against the frontportion of the eye-ball for the treatment of certain irregularconditious.

Further objects of my invention are to provide an eye treating andmassaging device that is relatively simple in construction composed ofbut few parts, capable of being easily and cheaply manufactured andassembled, and which requires a relatively small quantity of fluid whenfilled or made ready for use.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists incertain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts thatwill hereinafter be more fully described and claimed and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in which:

ing and massaging device of my improved construction.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an eye treat-' Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsection taken through the center of the instrument.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings which illustrate apractical embodiment of my invention, 10 designates a hollow collapsiblebody that is formed of rubber or flexible composition of which rubber isone ofthe principal ingredients, and at the lower end or base of thishollow body formed a flange 11, and projecting outwardly or downwardlytherefrom is a short cylindrical stud 12.

Mounted on the stud 12 and secured thereto in any suitable manner,preferably by a suitable cement, is a metal cap 13 having a base flange'14 and the inner surface of the wall of this cap is threaded orcorrugated as designated by 15, and the grooves between the threads orcorrugations provide ample space for the cement that is utilized insecuring the cap 13 to the stud 12.

The upper orforward end of the hollow body 10 terminates in a shorttubular neck 16, immediately below which is formed an externallyarranged rib or bead 17, and secured on the neck, preferably by cement,is a metal cap 18, ,thelower or inner end of which terminates adjacentto the flange 17.

The inner surface of the annular wall of the cap 18 is-ribbed orcorrugated for the accommodation of the cement that is utilized inattaching said cap to the tubular neck16. The outer plate of the cap 18is provided with an aperture 19 that coincides with the opening in theneck 16, and removably seated in the neck is atubular stem 20 that isformed integral with the center of a concave applicator 21 of such sizeand shape as to fit over the front portion of the eye-ball.

When my improved instrument is to be used the chamber within the hollowbody is filled The applicator or cup 21 is now positioned directly overand against the front portion of the eye and the member 10 is partiallycollapsed so as to force the liquid forwardly through stem 20 into eyecup 21, thereby applying gentle pressure to the eye ball and itsmuscles, aft-er which pressure upon member 10 is relieved so as topermit the liquid to return thereto, thus exerting gentle suction on thefront portion of the eye which action is highly effective and beneficialin the treatment of various unnatural conditions of, the eye ball andits muscles.

The device may be used as an ordinary eye cup for the purpose of washingand cleansing eyes, and likewise for applying to the eyes a cleansingagent, such as a boric acid solution.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided an ophthalmic instrument thatis relatively simple in construction, inexpensive of manufacture, andwhich may be very easily manipulated for the purpose of imparting gentlepressure, and suction to the eye-ball and its nuscles in order torelieve and correct various ailments.

Obviously he cups or applicators used in connection with my improvedinstrument may be made in various sizes and interchangeably used on theforward end of the collapsible body and the outer edges of saidapplicator or the edges that make direct ,contact with the eye may bemade either round or oval in shape.

lhe instrument when properly assembled for use is practically aone-piece structure, and, being composed of relatively few parts, thedevice may be very economically produced. Further, the chamber withinthe collapsible body is relatively small and therefore the filling ofsaid collapsible body requires but a small volume of fluid. 7

The base flange M- of the cap '13, provides means whereby the instrumentmay be readily engaged by the thumb and fingers when said instrument ismanipulated during treatment of th eye, and said flange also provides arelatively broad base that permits the instrument to be placed in anupright position on a flat surface.

In some instances it may be found desirable to form the entire device,including the base member and the eye cup or applicator, from a singlepiece of rubber or analogous material.

It will be understood that minor changes in the size, formand'construction of the various parts of my improved eye treating devicemay be made and substituted for those herein shown and described withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is setforth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an eye treating device, a hollow collapsible body provided at oneend with an opening, a cap secured on the end of said: collapsible bodyand provided with an opening that coincides with the opening in saidbody, a tubular stem removably positioned in the openings in said capand body, and a concave applicator carried by the outer end of saidstem.

2. In an eye treating device, a hollow collapsible body provided at oneend with an opening, a cap secured on the end of said collapsible bodyand provided with an opening that coincides with the opening in saidbody, a tubular stem removably positioned in the openings in said capand body, a concave applicator carried by the outer end of said stem,and a base cap secured on the opposite end of said collapsible body.

8. In an eye treating device,-a hollow collapsible body provided at oneend with an opening, a cap secured on the end of said (:01- lapsiblebody and provided with an opening that coincides with the opening insaid body, a tubular stem removably positioned in the openings in saidcap and body, a concave applicator carried by the outer end of saidstem, :1. base cap secured on the opposite end of said coll apsiblebody, and a base flange on said last mentioned cap.

In testimony whereof I aflix my FRANCIS si nature.

fine.

